"our elections have become proxy wars between irreconcilable worldviews"
This caught my attention. The question is, how many worldviews? I see at least two in the R column among voters, with one of those overlapping with some D voters, which would explain the Kennedy, Musk, Gabbard switch.
Yeah, there's a lot of fracturing of worldviews in both parties. But there's no place for conservatives in the Dem party, but there is a place for us in the Rep party. In some ways, this election is a reversal of elections from 20 years ago. Dems are the party of big business and endless wars and Republicans are the party of the people and ending wars. Kinda wild.
Definitely wild. I used to say it was a Coke/Pepsi choice, because I didn't notice much difference in the policies or outcomes. I leaned R, but voted for several third party candidates as well, to make my displeasure at the blob known. At least I can thank the Democrats for making it a clearer choice these days. But seeing how people are harmed by their policies hurts the heart.
Hey Michael! I wanna start by saying I'm a reformed post-mill theonomic believer who is set on bringing God's law to the nations and reforming this country. I am the opposite of a pietist lol.
My issue with voting for Trump is this; The Bible gives clear commands on the character of our elected officials, not just on what they do, have done, or plan to do in the future.
They must be
1. Wise and understanding
2. Just
3. Fearing God
4. Hating covetousness
5. Humble
6. Honest
I'm not going to abstain from voting, I'm going to vote because I must, but I don't know if it would be biblical to vote for trump (or Harris obviously).
I'm open to being persuaded by all means, I just have not found a biblical argument of why I should vote for Trump. It seems that, if God offers a bare minimum, ultra easy standard to meet for elected officials, and the 2 options we have can't even make that, then it would be faithful to say "I'm not bound to either of these, they both defy what God has commanded."
I know the answer may come back "But then this will happen..." but all of these reasons are usually pragmatic only, and if God says something, I don't think its faithful to deny that because of supposed pragmatic reasons.
What are your thoughts on this? I really respect your opinion given your knowledge
I don't object to your reasoning, though I think wisdom would have us vote for Trump as the means through which God would stop the truly abhorrent wickedness that Harris would bring upon us.
This election comes down to this. Trump is a non-Christian. Harris is anti-Christian.
As I argued in my piece, our public perceptions of Trump are worse than reality (which is not to excuse his sins), and our public perceptions of Harris are better than reality, since she's been protected by the Democrat machine for decades. If you want a better idea of how extraordinarily corrupt she is, check out Tucker Carlson's interview with Harmeet Dhillon. Regarding your comment about the Bible's clear commands for the character of elected officials, what scriptures would you cite for this claim? I agree those characteristics are desirable and good. But that's what the choice before us. You vote with your heart in the primaries, and with your head in the general. Neither candidate meets your standard. However, Trump did a pretty good job his first term. Harris has never done a good job at anything, from what I can tell. If Trump and Harris were *equally* wicked, then we'd be in a different predicament. But in this case, we've got a choice between a wicked woman in Kamala Harris, and a man who has already been president once and was mercilessly attacked by the media, the Democrats who hate him with all their might, and turncoat, corrupt Republicans who stabbed him in the back and sabotaged him at every turn. I really wish people could see this more clearly. Trump did a good job in his first term, despite how the decked was stacked against him from day one. It isn't pragmatism to simple say, "Trump would do a better job as President than Harris, so I will vote Trump." My message for Christians who are hand wringing over this because of Trump's flaws are so heavenly minded they're no earthly good. Harris is an existential threat to our way of life. Period. Trump would defend our way of life, even if he doesn't live it himself.
Excellent piece. I'm seeing a lot of Christians urging other Christians not to vote. Most of them are giving the non-sensical argument that we shouldn't vote because we have Christ and we should only be focusing on Him.
They are trying to frame a Christian voting as somehow putting salvific faith into a politician or political party. We can still have what I call a "limited faith" in temporal things. I have faith in my hammer to drive a nail if I swing it properly. To suggest that I am somehow abandoning my faith in Christ by putting this limited faith into my hammer and should therefore refrain from picking up my hammer is nonsense. My hammer is a gift from God that I should use to serve my fellow man and feed my family. I should swing my hammer because Christ died for me and because swinging my hammer can help advance the Gospel. My hammer might not be a perfect tool, but that is not a good reason to leave it idle and sit on my hands.
The new age anti-nomianist Christian will say "Swinging your hammer is not the Gospel." just as they will say "Engaging in politics/ voting is not the Gospel." Well, showering and brushing ones teeth is not the Gospel, but expecting to share the Gospel effectively with B.O. and bad breath is foolhardy. Expecting to sway a homeless man with flowery words about God's love while leaving a hammer, that could be used to build him a home, sit idle is also foolhardy.
We should use every tool and talent that God has given us to do the temperol work He has set before us. Abstaining from voting is just choosing the greater of two evils in absentia.
Good points. I like your last line: "Abstaining from voting is just choosing the greater of two evils in absentia." That's the practical result. You may be interested in two other pieces I wrote a couple of months ago about "loser theology." That's the same as what you're describing here.
"our elections have become proxy wars between irreconcilable worldviews"
This caught my attention. The question is, how many worldviews? I see at least two in the R column among voters, with one of those overlapping with some D voters, which would explain the Kennedy, Musk, Gabbard switch.
Yeah, there's a lot of fracturing of worldviews in both parties. But there's no place for conservatives in the Dem party, but there is a place for us in the Rep party. In some ways, this election is a reversal of elections from 20 years ago. Dems are the party of big business and endless wars and Republicans are the party of the people and ending wars. Kinda wild.
Definitely wild. I used to say it was a Coke/Pepsi choice, because I didn't notice much difference in the policies or outcomes. I leaned R, but voted for several third party candidates as well, to make my displeasure at the blob known. At least I can thank the Democrats for making it a clearer choice these days. But seeing how people are harmed by their policies hurts the heart.
Hey Michael! I wanna start by saying I'm a reformed post-mill theonomic believer who is set on bringing God's law to the nations and reforming this country. I am the opposite of a pietist lol.
My issue with voting for Trump is this; The Bible gives clear commands on the character of our elected officials, not just on what they do, have done, or plan to do in the future.
They must be
1. Wise and understanding
2. Just
3. Fearing God
4. Hating covetousness
5. Humble
6. Honest
I'm not going to abstain from voting, I'm going to vote because I must, but I don't know if it would be biblical to vote for trump (or Harris obviously).
I'm open to being persuaded by all means, I just have not found a biblical argument of why I should vote for Trump. It seems that, if God offers a bare minimum, ultra easy standard to meet for elected officials, and the 2 options we have can't even make that, then it would be faithful to say "I'm not bound to either of these, they both defy what God has commanded."
I know the answer may come back "But then this will happen..." but all of these reasons are usually pragmatic only, and if God says something, I don't think its faithful to deny that because of supposed pragmatic reasons.
What are your thoughts on this? I really respect your opinion given your knowledge
I don't object to your reasoning, though I think wisdom would have us vote for Trump as the means through which God would stop the truly abhorrent wickedness that Harris would bring upon us.
This election comes down to this. Trump is a non-Christian. Harris is anti-Christian.
As I argued in my piece, our public perceptions of Trump are worse than reality (which is not to excuse his sins), and our public perceptions of Harris are better than reality, since she's been protected by the Democrat machine for decades. If you want a better idea of how extraordinarily corrupt she is, check out Tucker Carlson's interview with Harmeet Dhillon. Regarding your comment about the Bible's clear commands for the character of elected officials, what scriptures would you cite for this claim? I agree those characteristics are desirable and good. But that's what the choice before us. You vote with your heart in the primaries, and with your head in the general. Neither candidate meets your standard. However, Trump did a pretty good job his first term. Harris has never done a good job at anything, from what I can tell. If Trump and Harris were *equally* wicked, then we'd be in a different predicament. But in this case, we've got a choice between a wicked woman in Kamala Harris, and a man who has already been president once and was mercilessly attacked by the media, the Democrats who hate him with all their might, and turncoat, corrupt Republicans who stabbed him in the back and sabotaged him at every turn. I really wish people could see this more clearly. Trump did a good job in his first term, despite how the decked was stacked against him from day one. It isn't pragmatism to simple say, "Trump would do a better job as President than Harris, so I will vote Trump." My message for Christians who are hand wringing over this because of Trump's flaws are so heavenly minded they're no earthly good. Harris is an existential threat to our way of life. Period. Trump would defend our way of life, even if he doesn't live it himself.
These verses are what I would use
http://www.increasinglearning.com/blog/christian-voting
That’s ideal to have these kinds of leaders. Perhaps we will again someday. But we must choose between the options available in the election
Excellent piece. I'm seeing a lot of Christians urging other Christians not to vote. Most of them are giving the non-sensical argument that we shouldn't vote because we have Christ and we should only be focusing on Him.
They are trying to frame a Christian voting as somehow putting salvific faith into a politician or political party. We can still have what I call a "limited faith" in temporal things. I have faith in my hammer to drive a nail if I swing it properly. To suggest that I am somehow abandoning my faith in Christ by putting this limited faith into my hammer and should therefore refrain from picking up my hammer is nonsense. My hammer is a gift from God that I should use to serve my fellow man and feed my family. I should swing my hammer because Christ died for me and because swinging my hammer can help advance the Gospel. My hammer might not be a perfect tool, but that is not a good reason to leave it idle and sit on my hands.
The new age anti-nomianist Christian will say "Swinging your hammer is not the Gospel." just as they will say "Engaging in politics/ voting is not the Gospel." Well, showering and brushing ones teeth is not the Gospel, but expecting to share the Gospel effectively with B.O. and bad breath is foolhardy. Expecting to sway a homeless man with flowery words about God's love while leaving a hammer, that could be used to build him a home, sit idle is also foolhardy.
We should use every tool and talent that God has given us to do the temperol work He has set before us. Abstaining from voting is just choosing the greater of two evils in absentia.
Good points. I like your last line: "Abstaining from voting is just choosing the greater of two evils in absentia." That's the practical result. You may be interested in two other pieces I wrote a couple of months ago about "loser theology." That's the same as what you're describing here.